Material handling device



y 1955 E. B. SUTTON ETAL MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8; 1953 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS E. B. SUTTON C. M, DUNHAM ATTORNEY y 12, 1955E. B. SUTTON ETAL 2,712,878

MATER'IAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTORS .HIEI E.B.SUTTON I 'nunnau 4mm E C.MIDUNHAM I H l: fig: BY IATTORNEY y 1955 E. B. SUTTON ET AL 2,712,873

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.1O .05.0,

I v v INVENTORS I E. s. SUTTON c. M. DUNHAM United States 1Parenr hire aatenterl .Fuly 12, 1955 IVEATERIAL HA DEVHCE Ernest 5. Sutton, PolkCity, and Caroel M. Dunbar-n, Kissimmee, Fla.

Application January 8, 1953, Serial No. 335,195

2 Claims. (Cl. 214-313) This invention relates to handling dev ces andmore particularly to a mobile, power operated lift adapted to engage aspecial container for mov g it, including raising, lowering and dumping,ha mg 5 ecially designed pov er operated engaging means for thecontainer.

In various industries, such as fruit growing, and the like, it isnecessary to move relatively large containers of fluent material. Thismay include lifting the container from one position on the ground orother support and shifting it to another position at the same or adifferent level. it may also be necessary to dump the contents of thecontainer at a given location. Because of the size and weight of heloaded containers, it is impractical to perform these tasks manually.

in the past, various machines for lead and unloading or moving heavycontainers have been devised, but these have frequently sufiered fromlack of flexibility of movement, or have been incapable of dumping thecontents without manual assistance.

Accordingly, it is object of the present invention to provide a deviceadapted to engage the upper rim or a specially constructed container,lift the container and move it to a desired location, either on the sameor a dilferent level, and if desired to dump the contents thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an articulatedlift, adapted to engage a container and shift its position both thehorizontal and the vertical plane, including releasing the container inthe same relative position or dumping it, if desired.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. l is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary side elevation to a reduced scale or" the lowerportion of the device of l, and illustrating one method of mounting iton a tractor;

Fig. 3, a rear fragmentary elevation to an enlarged scale of the lowerportion of the device of Fig. l, with a portion of the base shown insection;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary front elevation or" the device of Fig. 1,illustrating the same in raised position.

Fig. 5, a front elevation of the frame and bucket engaging member ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6, a top plan view of the device of Fig. 5, illustrating the mannerof engaging a container;

Fig. '7, a schematic diagram of the hydraulic actuating system; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a cross section through a valve actuating memberillustrating it in the three possible positions of use.

Briefly stated, the loader includes a base adapted to be mounted on atractor, or the like, and carrying an upright post or mast; means areprovided for rotating the post or mast through a complete circle. At theupper extremity of the mast, a boom is pivotally mounted and at thelatters other extremity a second or jib boom is pivotally mounted. Atthe end of the jib boom a frame is mounted which has one angularlydisposed arm fixed thereto and a second arm movably connected theretowhich is adapted to engage the opposite side of a container from that ofthe fixed arm. Hydraulic pistons are mounted between the mast and theboom, the boom and the jib boom, and the jib boom and the movable arm,in order to produce relative movement or articulation between thepivotal members. A fourth is mounted between the jib boom and the frame,the latter of which is pivotally supported on the jib boom, in order tolift the frame for dumping the container. Means for supplying hydraulicfluid under pressure to the pistons and control by valves accessible tothe operator of the tractor is also included.

Referring to the drawings, the loader comprises a base ill, having sidemembers 11 and 12, joined by a top or web portion 13. The base may bemounted on channel members 3 3 and i5, carried by a tractor 1d.

Supported between the members 11 and 12 is a bracket 17 which carries anupright sleeve 18. A post or mast 1% is received in the sleeve and has acollar 29 mounted just above the sleeve which engages a bearing 21 atthe upper end of the sleeve. At the lower extremity of the mast is agear 12-2. A mating gear 23 is mounted on a shaft 24 carried by bracket17. At the lower end of shaft 24 a pinion 25 is mounted for enga ernentwith a melt 2-5 which is attached to a roc 2 mounted for reciprocationin a cylinder 28.

At the upper end of the post 39 a pair of spaced trunnions 29 aremounted which pivotally mount a second post or boom hav'ag a transverseshaft 31 carried by the trunnions 29.

In order to vary and maintain the posts 19 and St) in the desiredangular relationship, a cylinder 32 is provided, having a cap 33 at itslower end. The cap has a pair of spaced ears 34 for receivin aprojection 35 extending from the collar 2%. a pin 36 pivotallyconnecting the ears to the projection 35.

Extending through a cap 37 at the other end of the cylinder is a rod 33having a piston 3 attached thereto and reciprocating within thecylinder. The other end of the rod is attached to a projection at theside or" the post 38 and spaced substantially intermediate its ends.Hydraulic lines a l, 41 extend into the cylinder 32.

The post 38 has a pair of trunnions 42 at its remote end which mount atransverse shaft 4-3, carrying a third post or jib boom 54. in order toadjust and maintain the angular relationship between the posts 31' and 4a cylinder 45, which be integral with or conected to the post 39, ismounted within the post. The cylinder is of conventional constructionand carries a conventional double acting piston 45 to which is attacheda projection 47 extending laterally outside the post 31' through a slot(not shown) therein. A push rod 48 is pivotally connected to theprojection 4'7 at one end and to a projection 49 at the other, thelatter projection being attached to a ilange or shield 5% extendingrearwardly from the sides of the post 4%.

Suitable lines 51, 52 are connected to the cylinder 45 for thetransmission of fluid between it and the hydraulic mechanism.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 6 the post 44 has thecentral or web portion of a yoke 55 rigidly attached to it, the arms ofthe yoke 54 5 providing substantially an extension of the post 44. Atthe ends of the arms a frame as is pivotally carried by projections 5'7and 58, pins extending through the arms and the projections.

The frame 56 has an upper rectangular portion having relatively shortside members 69 and 61, on which the projections 57 and 58 are mounted,and relatively long mounted on a rectangular portion of the frame.

side members 62 and 63 rigidly connected thereto. Dis- 7 posed at anangle to the rectangular portion are a pair of of a bucket 63..

Extending downwardly from the rectangular frame at' the opposite sidefrom the legs 64 and 65 are another pair of legs 69 and 70. Crossmembers 71 and 72, spaced from the side members 60, 61 of the frame,connect the.

legs 65 and 69, and 64 and 70, respectively.

A movable bucket engaging member 74 has a central arcuate portion 75similar to the portion 66 of the fixed member and is attached at itsside arms 76 and 77 to the lower end of a yoke having side member 78,79. The central portion of the yoke is mounted on a rod $0 connected toa piston reciprocated in a cylinder 81 which is Hy draulic lines 82,83are connected to thecylinder and extend to a source of fluid.

In order to vary and maintain the desired angular relationship betweenthe frame 56 carrying the bucket 68 and the post 44, a piston rod 84 hasan end pivotally attached to an ear 35 of a bar 86 mounted on therectangular portion of the'frame. The rod is attached to a piston 87reciprccated in a cylinder 88 which is mounted on the post 44 adjacentto the shaft 43. Suitable lines 89, 90 are attached to the cylinder.

7 In order to control the flow of fluid to the hydraulic lines, a lever91. is pivotally mounted on a board 92 for each pair of the lines.Referring more particularly to Figs. 7'through 10, a pump 92 isillustrated which feeds into a reservoir 93 and out through a dischargeline 94. The'line 9 is connected to a manifold (not shown) which feedsto an intake 95 for each of the valves. return conduit 96 of each of thevalves is connected to a I second manifold (not shown) which is attachedto a suction line 97 feedingto a reservoir 93.

From the reservoir the fluid is drawn into the pump for recirculation.

The

the movable valve member 103 is shown in the position at which thepassages of the valve areblockcd, the pistons being prevented frommovement within their respective cylinders under such circumstances. 7

In Fig. 16' the valve member 163 has been shifted to the right from theposition of Figs. 8 and 9 so that channels 99 and 192 are blocked, butopening channels 104 and 185. With the valve in this position it will beunderstood that the flow through the conduits'jlfll) and 101 is carryingthe container engaging members may be adjusted.

As the container engaging members are lowered into position, the member66 is engaged with the flange 67 of the container from which the movablemember 74 is moved into opposing engagement by. the operation of thepiston 86. After the bucket is engaged, it may be lifted and moved to adifferent position without movement of the tractor, or it may be carriedby the device as the tractor itself is moved for movement to a differentlocation.

It will be understood that because of the arrangement of the post andframe and their articulation that within the range of movement thecontainer may be shifted laterally or vertically to any desiredposition. Furthermore, by the actuation of the piston rod 84 to pivotthe. frame about the pivot means 57 and 58, the frame and' the containercarried thereby may be tilted to dumping position. 7

Accordingly, it will beunderstood that the invention includes acontainer and engaging means adapted to be mounted on a tractor or thelike and having a plurality of pivotally mounted arms, the lower orsupporting post of which may be rotated to any desired position,the'container and engaging means being mounted on a frame which can bepivotally moved to turn the container about a horizontal axis inorder-that it may be dumped.

While the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated andclaimed discloses. mechanical means for engaging the container or bucket63, such'means inciuding the internal bucket flange 67 and the fixedandmovable engaging members 66 and 75, respectively,.it will be understoodthat other clamping or securing mechanism may be employedadvantageously. Another form of such'mechanism desirably might behydraulic in nature, including an appropriate cylinder and controlwhereby the bucket 63 could be engaged exteriorly thereof and thusclamped or securely locked into proper position with respect to thehandling mechanism with which we are presently concerned.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention is.

shown and described, it will be understood that it is not limited to thespecific construction disclosed, but that various modifications arewithin the scope thereof.

Therefore, the invention is only limited as defined in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is: l. A device for handling open top containers havinginturned flange structure at their tops comprising a base for mountingon a movable support,- a first post mounted on the base and extendingupwardly therefrom, means for rotating the post relative to the base, asecond post ,piv-

otally mounted on the first post, piston and cylinder means extendingfrom the first to the second post, means for actuating the piston andcylinder means for adjusting the angular relationship between the posts,a third postpivon the second post, whereby the angular relationship be-.

tween the second and third post may be adjusted, a frame pivotallymounted on the end of the third post remote from the second post, afirst fixed container "engaging member extending from the frame forengagement with g the container flange at one side of the container, asecond iii) container engaging member pivotally connected to the frameand diverging from said firstengaging member for engagement with thecontainer flange at the opposite side of the container, piston andcylinder means mounted on the frame and connected to the second engagingmeans for actuation thereof, means for actuating said piston andcylinder means, a fourth piston and cylinder means mounted on the thirdpost, the piston means being attached to the frame, and means foractuating the fourth piston and cylinder means. 7

2. Apparatus for handling material in which the material is disposed inopen top containers having inwardly extending ledge portions adjacenttheir upper ends within the outline of the containers so that thecontainers may be positioned in side-by-side abutting relation, a framehaving means for engaging a ledge portion of a container, means movablymounted on said frame for engaging an opposite ledge portion of thecontainer and movable into and out of operative position on saidopposite ledge por- 7 tion, means to support said frame for vertical andlateral movement, power means for causing vertical and lateral movementof said support means, additional power means .to move said movablymounted means on said frame into and out of engagement with the oppositeledge portion of the container, other additional power means reactingbetween said support means and said frame for tilting said frame and theledge engaging means thereon to move the container from an uprightposition retaining fluent material to a tipped position whereby thefluent material will fall by gravity from said container, and controlmeans for actuating said power means to perform all of the functionswithout manual handling of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCartwright July 18, 1882 Lass May 26, 1914 Benton July 7, 1942 OliverApr. 8, 1952 Hegre June 10, 1952 Falkner Nov. 11, 1952 Ezell et a1 Jan.20, 1953 Welden May 26, 1953

